The 'Accidental Entrepreneur' Breakfast, 29th July 2011

Ten years ago, Rob Shepherd earned his living as a writer-director in the world of film and television, with a new, small, local webhosting company as an accidental sideline. By chance rather than design, he is now full-time MD of the international press release agency Press Dispensary, as well as having a few equally accidental side projects. "Like so many people, my career has been characterised by accidents and chance happenings," Rob muses, "but what I've learned over recent years - because of the financial crash and because of the speed with which the commercial world changes nowadays - is that accidents, upsets and unintended events are no longer a threat to business: they can instead become its foundations. Being accident-prone is now A Good Thing. And can drive a business." At this inspirational breakfast, Rob looks at the accidents that made him an entrepreneur and considers how embracing chance and planning for accidents is now a fundamental philosophy and inspiration for Press Dispensary, his accidental sidelines and his business self.